Combined watch and barometer



Aug. 30, 1955 D. R. L. FRANKLIN ET 2,716,327

COMBINED WATCH AND BAROMETER Filed Sept. 23, 1952 INVENTORY DONALD R.L. FRANKLIN y ANNE Fox FRANKLIN AI'IJfi/YF) United States Patent COMBINED WATCH AND BAROMETER Donald R. L. Franklin and Anne Fox Franklin, New York, N. Y.

Application September 23, 1952, Serial No. 310,998 1 Claim. (Cl. 5857) This invention relates to a combined watch and barometer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a combination watch and barometer which will present at one view the atmospheric changes as well as the exact time when they are taking place.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined watch and barometer adapted to be worn as a wrist-watch which has a built-in barometer along with the usual clock mechanism for ready reference.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a combination wristwatch and barometer embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, top plan view of the Wrist-watch shown in Fig. 1, with the dial, crystal and case removed to show the internal arrangement of the parts.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, top plan view of the dial shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the dial shown in Fi .5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, top plan view of the watch case shown in Fig. l. r

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the case shown in Fi 7.

l ig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 7 with the dial, crystal and base plate therewithin but with the mechanism removed.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a part of Pi 9.

ieferring now in detail to Figs. 14, and in the practice of our invention, there is shown a combination wrist watch and barometer, referred to collectively as 10, including a case 11, a crystal 12, a dial 13 and an internal mechanism, referred to collectively as 14, to be hereinafter described.

The dial 13 on its outer face is provided near the periphery thereof with the usual scale, graduated in inches of mercury from 28.5 to 30.5, substantially as illustrated in the drawing, and adapted to be read with an indicator to be hereinafter described.

The internal mechanism 14 includes an aneroid barometer 15 and a small, circular wrist-watch case and works 16, both mounted upon the circular base-plate 17 in a manner to be more particularly described.

While We have illustrated a wrist-watch case 11 and a small, circular wrist-watch case and works 16 of the type commonly used in womens wrist-watches in the drawing,

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it is to be understood that the arrangement and combination of parts comprising our invention is equally applicable to other watch and clock mechanisms, for example, hand-Wound pocket Watches, alarm clocks of both the mechanical and electrical type, electronic clock mechanisms, chronographs, calendar watches and various other clock mechanisms.

Also, while we have illustrated an aneroid barometer, it is to be understood that any other compact type of barometer may be used.

As shown in Fig. 2, the usual flat circular metallic box 18, having its upper and under surfaces corrugated in concentric circles, is rigidly secured to the base plate 17 with one edge of the box coinciding with the outer edge of the baseplate 17. This box or chamber 18 is partially exhausted of air, through the short tube 19, which is subsequently made air-tight by soldering, and constitutes a spring, which is affected by every variation of pressure in the external atmosphere, the corrugations on its surface increasing its elasticity. At the center of the upper surface of the exhausted chamber 18 there is a solid cylindrical projection 20, to the top of which the principal lever 21 is attached. This lever rests partly on a spring 22; it is also supported by two vertical pins 23 and 24, with perfectfreedom of motion. A support 29 is rigidly secured to the base plate 17 intermediate the end of the lever 21 andthe box 18 and extends upwardly above the plane of the top of box 18. A radial arm 32' is secured to the top of support 29 and extends over the box 18 providing at its free end in the geometric center of the base plate above the box 18, a bearing for the center shaft 33 carrying indicator 34, in the usual manner. A second arm 32 is secured to the top of support 29 integral with the arm 32 and extends to the periphery of the base plate to form the bottom of a bearing member 31. The undersurface of the bearing member 31 is provided with a downwardly extending second bearing member 31 (see Fig. 13).

A downwardly extending pin 25 is rigidly secured to the end of the lever 21 adjacent the spring 22 and contacts a plate 26 mounted upon a shaft 27 rotatably mounted in bearing member 31 and support 29' (see Fig. 13), in the usual manner of aneroid barometer construction. The upper surface of the plate 26 has regidily secured thereto an upstanding pin 28 which bears against the edge of a rake lever 29 mounted on a shaft 30 rotatable in bearing member 31, also in the usual manner of aneroid barometer. construction. A pinion gear 35 is rigidly mounted on the bottom portion of the shaft 33 and meshes with the teeth of the rake gear 29, thus changing the motion from vertical to horizontal, and regulating the indicator 34 attached to the shaft 33.

As is well known, the motion originates in the corrugated elastic box 18, the surface of which is depressed or elevated as the weight of the atmosphere is increased or diminished, and the motion is communicated through the aforementioned levers to the axis of the indicator 34. The spiral spring on which the lever 21 rests is intended to compensate for the effects of alterations in temperature. The actual movement at the center of the exhausted box 18, whence the indications emanate, is very slight, but by the action of the levers is multiplied very greatly, so that a very small movement in the box 18 carries the hand 34 across the dial 13 a relatively large distance. The effect of this combination is to multiply the smallest degrees of atmospheric pressure, so as to render them sensible on the dial 13, all as well known in the art.

A pin 35' limits the movement of the rake gear 29,

while a hair-spring 36 returns the indicator 34 to its original position when the atmospheric change disappears. The lever 21 is provided with a cut-out 37 permitting the positioning of an upstanding, cylindrical shaft 38 3 threaded into the base plate 17 at its lower end and provided with a central opening 39 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Similar shafts 40 and 41 are similarly secured to the base plate 17 at the periphery thereof in equidistant relation to each other, and are provided with openings 42 and 43 therein.

A horizontal supporting plate 44 is rigidly secured to the shaft 40 at one end and is spaced above the base plate 17 sufficiently to pass freely above the top of the box 18', as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and is adapted to support the wrist-watch case and works 16 secured thereto, the lever 21 being provided with a cut-out 45 receiving the latter.

The wrist-watch case and works 16 are of the type normally employed in womens wrist-watches except that the cannon pinion, a relatively long sleeve frictioned over the true center arbor for being driven thereby and carrying the minute Wheel, is replaced by a dial pinion 46 rigidly secured to the upper end of the true center arbor 47. The arbor 47 is driven from the watch train in conventional manner.

It will be noted that the works and case 16 is positioned with one point of its perimeter, namely that carry-- ing the usual winding and setting stem 48, coinciding with the perimeter of the base plate 17 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2, with other side of the case above and overlying the box 18.

An intermediate minute and hour driving wheel 49 is mounted upon a shaft 50 rotatable within a bearing 50' secured at its lower end to the base plate 17, the outer teeth of the wheel 49 meshing with those of the dial pinion 46 whereby to drive the former.

The outer teeth of the wheel 49 also mesh with the driven minute Wheel 51 freely rotatable upon the driven hour wheel 52 which is in turn mounted upon a shaft 53 rotatable within a bearing 53 secured at its lower end to the base plate 17, whereby to drive the wheel 51, one revolution per hour. The minute hand is secured in conventional manner to the hub of the minute wheel 51 and cooperates with the watch dial 54 integral with the dial 13 through the opening 55 (see Fig. 5) t The undersurface of the wheel 49 is integrally formed with a pinion gear 56 which meshes with the teeth of the driven hour wheel 52 whereby to drive the wheel 52, one revolution every 12 hours. The hour hand is secured in conventional manner to the top of the hub of the hour wheel 52 and cooperates with the watch dial 54 through the opening 55 provided at the center thereof.

It will be noted that due to the spacing of the case and works 16 above the box 18 and the vertical alignment of the wheel 52 with the former (see Fig. 4) that the wheel 52 passes freely over the box 18 with suflicient clearance to also pass freely over the arm 32 and rake gear 29. This spacing and alignment between the box 18, the case and works 16, the wheel 52, the arm 32 and the rake gear 29 is essential to the operation of the various moving parts within the case 11, and is an important part of the present invention. It will also be noted that the shaft 53 is in alignment with the shaft 33 and the projection 20 and is spaced ninety degrees from an imaginary line joining the shaft 47 and the shaft 33, permitting the dial 54 at its upper perimeter to extend above the shaft 33 whereby to provide an improved, more compact watch face with the winding stem 48 in its usual position, the shaft 33 at the center of the dial 13 and the dial 54 overlapping the shaft 33.

Referring now to Figs. 5-10, and in the further practice of my invention, the rear face of the dial 13 is provided with three equidistant peripheral pins 57, 58 and 59 adapted to slidably enter the openings 39, 43 and 41 in the shafts 38, 40 and 41, respectively, as shown in Fig. 9, whereby to support the dial 13 in proper spaced relationship to the base plate 17.

The center of the dial 13 is provided with an opening 60 adapted to receive the shaft 33 carrying the indicator 34.

It will be seen that the undersurface of the base plate 17 provides the back of the casing 11 normally resting adjacent the wrist of the wearer. This base plate is constructed of stainless steel so as not to react with the acids normally exuded by the skin during perspiration.

The case 11, which may be manufactured of any suitable metal, consists of a hollow, circular frame 61, substantially trapezoidal in cross section (see Fig. 9) open at its rear and adapted to receive the base plate 17 therebetween. The frame 61 surrounding this rear opening is provided with integrally formed beads 62 adapted to engage corresponding grooves located in the periphery of the base plate 17 whereby to retain the latter normally within the frame 61 but permitting it to be snapped out when necessary.

The front of the frame 61 is likewise open and is provided in its inner periphery with an inwardly extending flange 63 flared outwardly on its inner side and adapted to receive the crystal 12 thereunder which in turn abuts the periphery of the dial 13.

The frame 61 is also provided with an opening 64 adapted to receive the outwardly extending winding stem 43 of the case and works 16, as well as being provided with the usual wings 65 secured to the outer periphery of the frame 61 in any suitable manner and adapted to receive the wrist-band in a well-known manner.

The outer face of the flange 63 is provided with an annular groove 66 adapted to slidably receive a ring 67 carrying a zero marking 68 for a purpose to be hereinafter described, the ring 67 on its outer edge having an integrally formed shoulder 69 adapted to reside in a downwardly extending groove 70 communicating with the groove 66 whereby to retain the sliding ring 67 within the groove 66, while permitting its angular rotation.

By positioning the marker 68 above the point of the indicator 34 at a particular time during the day, it will be possible to compare later daily readings of the indicator to readily determine the net displacement of the point, rather than merely noting the total displacement of the point from its position at the center of the dial, thus making it easily possible to distinguish diurnal movements from migratory barometric changes.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A combination watch and barometer comprising a base a plate, a barometer mechanism disposed on said base plate, a Watch mechanism disposed on said base plate, winding means in operative engagement with said watch mechanism and extending outwardly of said base plate, said barometer mechanism including a rotating indicating shaft in operative engagement therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, a dial plate disposed above said barometer and watch mechanisms, indicator means carried by said shaft and adapted to cooperate with the upper face of said .dial plate whereby to indicate the barometric pressure, a watch dial upon the upper face of said dial plate, hour and minute hands adapted to cooperate with said watch dial whereby to indicate the time, and means interconnecting said watch mechanism and said hour and minute hands, said barometer mechanism being of the aneroid type and including a hollow box spring, said watch mechanism being mounted on said base plate above the top of said box with a portion of said watch mecha nism overlying and freely spaced from said box, said watch dial being tangent to the periphery of said dial plate with the periphery of said watch dial extending beyond the axis of said indicator shaft, said interconnecting means comprising a center arbor in operative engagement with said watch mechanism and extending upwardly therefrom, a dial pinion secured to said arbor, an intermediate gear in mesh with said dial pinion, a second pinion gear fixedly carried by the bottom of said intermediate gear and concentric therewith, an hour gear concentric with and below said watch dial in mesh with said second pinion gear, a minute gear concentric with and above said hour gear in mesh with said intermediate gear, hour and minute hands carried by said hour and minute gears adapted to cooperate with the face of said watch References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,913,481 Gody June 13, 1933 

